Mechanical time fuse for artillery projectiles



MECHANICAL TiME FUSE FOR ARTILLERY PROJECTILES Filed July 25, 1934 I Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES TIME FUSE FOR, ARTILLERY PRQJECTIIES MECHANICAL Helmut Junghans, Sulgen, near Sclu'amberg,

Germany Application July 23, 1934,'Serial No. 736,454

Germany November 24, 1933 3 Claims. (01. 102-37) This invention relates to mechanical time fuses for artillery projectiles, which are arranged to ignite on impact when the time fuse, either because of unsuitable adjustment or because of faulty operation, does not act with retardation. More particularly the present invention has for its object a mechanical time fuse sensitive to impact.

In order to cheapen and simplify the fuse, and in order to simplify the ignition channels, whereby greater reliability is secured, it is advantageous for both types of ignition to be initiated with one and the same'ignition member, so that only one percussion cap is required. In the case of an impact ignition, which is brought about by inertia, this condition is complied with by the fact that an axially movable percussion bolt carrying the percussion cap strikes against the percussion needle, while in the case of retarded igg nition, the percussion needle strikes against the percussion cap.

This arrangement is impossible if sensitive impact ignition is required, which only takes place by contact of the point of the shell with any object, for example the ground, before reduction of its speed of flight takes place. In this case, the ignition is initiated by axial movement of the percussion pin lying in the axis of the mechanism. The use of this pin simultaneously as ig- D nition pin, in which case the percussion cap which also serves for the time ignition must lie ,directly below it, is possible and known only in the case of the known decomposing fuses having no accurate time adjustment, and with which,

5 moreover, retarded ignition takes place after a time that can only be approximately dimensioned, but not adjusted. Here also, this is only possible with an axially arranged percussion cap, the arrangement being such that the ignition must be initiated by means of a spring. On the other hand, the use of only one ignition member for retarded and impact ignition in artillery fuses which may be made to act with retardation and have accurate time adJustment, and with which the percussion cap is set in the axial direction by a spring, or in the radial direction by centrifugal force, sinot yet known.

This problem is solved by the present invention in that the percussion pin, lying axially in I the axis of the fuse for example in a. bore provided in the shaft of the adjustment member, re-

leases any part which lies between the part of the clockwork initiating the time ignition and the ignition member itself, in such a manner that, for example, a part acting in the case of retarded ignition by rotation about its axis is, in the case of ignition by impact, released and shifted, which also results in the initiation of the ignition.

An example of such a construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein 5 Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a plan and two side views of the position before the impact, and Figures 4,

, 5 and 6 the same after the impact has taken place. 7

The central shaft b of the clockwork, on which 10 is mounted the adjustment disc a is bored throughout its entire length. In this bore is guided the percussion bolt cwhich, upon impact of the projectile against any resistance, is pressed down. In order that this movement may not take place at the firing, a safety tub'e lying above the mechanism, but not shown, is provided for the percussion bolt 0.

When the fuse is set for retarded ignition, the engaging lever e securely connected with the shaft (1 slides in the known manner with its bentup end or on the circumference of the adjustment disc a driven by the mechanism, until e1 falls into the aperture :11 of this disc, whereby the shaft d is subjected to a slight rotation, owing to which a lever f is able to enter the milled out recess d1 of the shaft d, which brings about the engagement of the ignition device of any desired form, which is not shown.

An immediate release of the lever 1 takes place upon the impact owing to the fact that theshaft d is shifted outwardly instead of being rotated, in that its bearings, or only one of them, are enabled to shift outwardlyby centrifugal force. The latter case is illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The lower journal of the shaft d is not mounted in a stationary frame plate, but in a slide, having at its inner end a hook g1. The end hi, also hook-shaped, of a resilient part 71. is in suspended engagement with this hook, the other end of the said resilient part h being secured to the frame. In addition, the resilient part it has a conical elevation hi! in the neighbourhood of the centre of the mechanism.

If the percussion bolt c is forced downwards by impact of the shell, its end strikes against the cone h: and forces the part h to bend so far that the hook hl leaves the-hook g1. The slide 9 and the shaft d are shifted outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force (see Figures 4, 5 and 6), whereby the lever j is released and, in its turn, releases the ignitiom Having now particularli'described and ascer-' talned the nature of my said invention and in t5 what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:--

1. A mechanical time fuse for projectiles wherein sensitive impact ignition is effected comprising a central shaft disposed longitudinally in the said fuse, an adjustment disk rotatable about the said central shaft, a shaft having a recess and a locking lever adapted to engage radially with the said disk, said shaft initiating the time ignition by its rotation, a lever capable of entering the recess of the said shaft for producing ignition and a percussion pin guided in a bore in the central shaft and members for bringing about with the said disk, said shaft initiating the time.

ignition by its rotation, a lever capable of entering the recess of the said shaft for producing ignition, a percussion pin for releasing the said time fuse for projectiles lever independently of the time ignition and a movable member adapted to be released by the percussion pin and shaped to form a bearing for the said shaft.

3. A mechanical time fuse for projectiles wherein sensitive impact ignition is effected comprisinga central. shaft, an adjustment disk rotatable about the'said central shaft, a shaft initiating the time ignition by its rotation, a locking ,lever actuating saidlast mentioned shaft which engages radially with the said disk, a lever released by said locking lever for producing ignition, a percussion pin adapted to release the ignition producing lever independently of the time ignition, said last mentioned shaft being mounted in a movable member, a hook provided at the inner end of said member and a resilient part engaging with the said hook in its inoperative position and adapted to be bent if the percussion pin is forced downwards by impact of the shell, whereby the said member will disengage from the said part and shift outwardly with the shaftin order to release the lever and to effect the ignition.

HELMUT JUNGHANS. 

